Trans nzoia: National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) have been urged to be on the front line in the National Identification Card and voter listing drive. Principal Secretary State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, Dr. Belio Kipsang, reminded chiefs that as representatives of the government at the grassroots, they had a critical ambassadorial role to play in disseminating information regarding government programs.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Kipsang, speaking in Trans Nzoia after meeting with chiefs and other officers, added that the department has revamped its service delivery to ensure efficiency. He noted that the modernization of the ID card production and the application fee waiver have resulted in an increase in the number of cards produced per day, revealing that last week alone, over 110,000 cards were produced.
Dr. Kipsang emphasized the need for all Kenyans who have reached the mandatory age to ensure they have applied for the ID cards, warning that those without the Card risk missing out on essential government services. He stated, “We have reached a critical stage in time where as a Kenyan citizen you need to have undergone all the required registration procedures. Besides a birth certificate, a Kenyan who has reached 18 years should have an ID. Without these important documents, you will not be in a position to enlist for government services like SHA.”
As he reminded chiefs of their critical role in the identification of individuals to be registered for the ID cards and the eventual distribution process, Dr. Kipsang revealed that the department is holding over 452,000 ID cards nationally whose owners have not claimed them. Specifically, in Trans Nzoia County, there are over 8,700 IDs awaiting collection at the offices.
Addressing the upcoming mass voter listing exercise, Dr. Kipsang urged those who have reached the mandatory age to quickly acquire the ID Card, which is essential for voter registration. He reiterated, “We don’t want anyone to be locked out of the decision-making come the 2027 General Election for having failed to register.”
National Registration Bureau Secretary Gilbert Kitiyo reported that in Trans Nzoia, 695,352 people have registered for Identity cards, whereas 47,377 are still without the document. He challenged chiefs to help identify and mobilize those who have not yet registered, noting that many of those without Identity cards are women, especially those who felt it was not necessary after marriage.
During the engagement, National Government Administration officers were sensitized on the new guidelines pertaining to the ID card registration exercise, with a focus on the identification of the deserving cases.
